Why Egypt's revolution isn't likely to be repeated in Algeria

February 21, 2011

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Algeria's President Abdulaziz Bouteflika has been in power since 1999.

Hundreds of Algerian police broke up an anti-government rally in the capital Saturday, arresting at least one opposition member. Another opposition lawmaker was reportedly hospitalized. Turnout was much lower than expected. Police were out in force, and a group that represented 500 student protesters claimed they were beaten bloody with police sticks. Protesters, initially demonstrating against high commodity prices, increasingly are demanding political reform. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has promised to lift a 19-year-long state of emergency, including a ban on public gatherings, by the end of the month. Assia Boundaoui is a freelance reporter, blogger and producer of the Worldview series Islamic Reform: Towards a Global Reformation Movement. She was in Algiers this weekend to monitor the anti-government demonstrations.